Convertible shoe



Aug. 10, 1965 L. R. P1KE CONVERTIBLE SHOE Filed 001;. 20, 1964 INVENTORLoRRf/v n. P/KE United States Patent O 3,199,232 CNVERTHBLE SEDE LorrenR. Pike, 5624 El Arado Way, Sacramento, Calif. Filed Get. 26, 1961i,Ser. No. 495,028 4 Claims. {CL 36-2.5)

This invention relates to shoes and, more particularly, to a shoe whichis convertible between a heelless type shoe and a shoe having an upperheel portion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a comfortable andconvenient shoe which can be readily converted for use with and withoutan upper heel portion, whereby such can be readily worn as a sandal oras a dress shoe for various occasions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a convertible shoeof the type described having ,an upper heel portion which can be readilydetached or used, without discomfort to the wearer, and withoutdetracting from the appearance or usefulness of the shoe.

Still an aditional object of the present invention is to provide aconvertible shoe of the aforementioned type which is simple inconstruction, can be manufactured at relatively low cost, and which ishighly attractive in appcarance and desirability.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of thisinvention will become apparent from a study of the following,specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

FGURE l is a side elevational view of a convertible shoe made inaccordance with one form of the present invention, in actual use;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of certain parts of the shoeshown in FGURE l, with the upper heel portion removed;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the upper heel portion forming a partof the shoe shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view of aslightly modiiied form of construction; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the internal frame of the upper shoeportion shown in FIGURE 4, showing details thereof.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly toFIGURES 1 to 3 thereof, a convertible shoe 143 made in accordance withthe present invention is shown to include a soie member i2 having a rearlsutrface portion 14 for receiving the heel of a foot, and having adepending structural heel 16.

The rear surface portion 14 of the sole, defines a rearwardly openingsocket 2i? in the form of an aperture lying in a plane intermediate theupper surface portion and the structural heel i6, for slidably receivinga forwardly projecting tab 22 of a heel receivinU upper 24 of anysuitable construction and design. This tab 22 is integral with a frameportion 26 which, when the heel upper is applied to the shoe, snuglyengages with the sides of the rear surface portion 114 of the sole toprovide a finished appearance. A tie string 23, strap, or the like, iscarried by the heel upper 2d for engagement with the foot of the wearer,thus serving to maintain the heel upper in assembly with the shoe andproviding support for the wearer.

It will thus be recognized that upon removal of the heel upper 2e, theshoe 1t) can be comfortably worn as a sandal.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawing, a slightly modifiedform of construction 3l) is shown wherein the sole 32 has an upperportion 34 that defines a forvuardly and upwardly opening slot 3o whichreceives a depending and rearwardly extending tab 38 of the frame il ofa removable heel upper 4Z. This frame ill also includes an upwardlyprojecting stifener member i4 and side frame iti for adding body to theupper 42 to sustain the foot of the wearer without any additionalreinforcement or strap. The heel upper 42 also includes a heel pad 28that overlies the opening Sie, and frame portion di), to avoiddiscomfort to the wearer. 2l/hen the heel upper is removed from theshoe, simply by forwardly disengaging it from the sole portions, theheel pad may be applied directly to the upper surface of the portion 34to provide similar protection against discomfort to the wearer becauseof the aperture 36.

It will now be appreciated that an extremely simple, highly styled, andconvenient shoe has been provided which can be readily converted by theuser for various occasions.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to theconstruction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such isnot to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, whichis best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thu-s described my invention, I claim as new and. desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

l. A convertible shoe comprising, in combination, a sole having a rearsurface portion for receiving the heel of ya foot and having a dependingstructural heel, a shoe upper having lower marginal portionscorresponding to the outline of an upper extremity of said structuralheel, a mounting plate carried by said shoe upper above said lowermarginal portions thereof, and said rear portions of said sole having aterminal section defining socket means detachably receiving saidmounting plate of said upper with said lower marginal portions of saidshoe unper enveloping said upper extremity `of said structural heel tomasi: said mounting plate and socket means from View externally of saidshoe.

2. A convertible shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein said socket meanscomprises a rearwardly opening aperture in the terminal section of saidsole, said aperture lying in a plane intermediate said surface portionand Said structural :heel and opening rearwardly outwardly, saidmounting plate comprising a forwardly protruding tab carried by saidupper slidably received within said aperture.

3. A convertible shoe as set forth in claim i, wherein said socket meanscomprises a forwardly and upwardly opening aperture defined by said rearsurface portion of said sole, and said mounting plate comprising arearwardly projecting tab carried by said upper slidably receivablewithin said aperture.

A convertible shoe as set forth in claim 3, wherein said upper furthercomprises a heel pad overlying said aperture and said tab.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,207,306 7/40Taaler 36-2-5 2,276,894 3/42 Vardy c 36-585 3,081,561 3/63 Taieher36-2.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,626,809 2/53 France.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. FRANK J. COHEN, Examiner.

1. A CONVERTIBLE SHOE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SOLE HAVING A REARSURFACE PORTION FOR RECEIVING THE HEEL OF A FOOT AND HAVING A DEPENDINGSTRUCTURAL HEEL, A SHOE UPPER HAVING LOWER MARGINAL PORTIONSCORRESPONDING TO THE OUTLINE OF AN UPPER EXTREMITY OF SAID STRUCTURALHEEL, A MOUNTING PLATE CARRIED BY SAID SHOE UPPER ABOVE SAID LOWERMARGINAL PORTIONS THEREOF, AND SAID REAR PORTIONS OF SAID SOLE HAVING ATERMINAL SECTION DEFINING SOCKET